This book follows the life of a young miner who was plucked from the mineshaft to find himself playing football in the Italian League a few years later. It is surely something that dreams were made of? However, this is exactly what happened to one such talented, working class lad from a small mining village in Shropshire in the late 1950’s. With contributions from some legendary footballers such as Jimmy Greaves, Sir Bobby Charlton and Peter McParland, this biography illustrates the path taken by lad who rose from ‘rags to riches’ and which saw many twists and turns.

Gerry Hitchens was an uncomplicated footballer with obvious natural talent and virtues. There have been more skilful players than Gerry, but footballers do not always have to have flair or skill but sometimes, natural ability, hard work and passion suffice, along with the will to learn and improve.

 However, Gerry had a bit extra to offer – the instinct to sniff out half chances and to score goals in abundance.These values continued to make him well liked and admired after his football career ended. He continued to play in charity games and it was a great sadness when he died prematurely in 1983, playing the game he loved in one of these matches.